Means for marking articles



Oct. 24, 19 39. F. AUTEM 2,177,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet l n l I f n m 1 A TTORN Y.

Oct. 24, 1939., F. ALJTEM MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 193'? 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 i'eng nvmvrom TTORNEY.

llll 0a. 24, 1939. F. AUTEM 2,111,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR.

BY I

I 0 ATTORNE;

Oct. 24, 1939. F. AUTEM MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 2a, 1937 5 F.LE--l.l.- 9/" l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 FlG-JJE- INVENTOR. fiedflzzf BY 5 7 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 24, 1939. F. AUTEM 2,177,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1957 1a Sheets-Sheet v INVEN TOR. fieaL/lui'm,

ELIE-43E- FJLE- -EE- A TTORNEY Oct. 24, 1939. F. AUTEM 2,177,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVEN TOR. fled/11013111 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 24, 1939. F. AUTEM 2,117.615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. All/km,

A TTORNEY.

Oct. 24, 1939. I AUTEM 2,177,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Firs-5E- a 2 a W gqwyz m m 3\ m i 1 I J 351 @Jlmriw. a

BY 2% Z z ATTORNEY.

Oct. 24, 1939. I AUTEM 2,177,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet ll INVEN TOR. li'ed Azflam A TTORNEY.

Oct. 24, 1939. F, AUTEM 2,177,615

MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed July 28, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 Fla--445- 9 INVENTOR:

Heal Ail fem BY 6 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Fred Autem, Wyomissing, Pa., assignor to Tex-- tile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 28, 1937, Serial No.- 156,166

28 Claims.

My invention relates to stamping devices, and more particularly to those adapted for conveying imprints by heat and pressure from transfer elements, such as paper ribbons having the imprints thereon, to fabrics, such as felt hats, knitted hosiery, bathing suits, underwear and the like.

In the art of marking articles or fabrics of the above indicated kind by heating and pressing against the articles, papers or like elements bearing insignia such as trade marks, size-indicating characters and the like, many factors have heretofore rendered difficult the practice of an effective method or the production of a device or machine that is simple, durable, economical, free from disorder, consistent in its operation and results, sufficiently rapid, and that has other qualities rendering it desirable.

Among the obstacles in the way of such prior methods and mechanisms are the widely variegated shapes, sizes and textures of the articles to be stamped, the inability to control the stamp heat, the high cost of producing the machines, the lack of ability to handle the articles quickly and expeditiously, the inability to properly feed, tension and take off the transfer ribbon, the different stamp pressure required for marking different articles, the inability to control and prevent damage to the machines, the likelihood of burning the paper or the operators hands, trouble in loading and unloading the machines with transfer paper, and various other adverse factors diflicult to overcome and to correlate into a smooth working device.

It is among the objects of this inventionto overcome the above mentioned and other difllculties in connection with devices of this type and to provide a mechanism that is free from the adverse factors set forth and an improvement generally in the art of marking fabrics by the mentioned transfer elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel thermostatic switch control and adjustment, together with a thermal indicator, whereby the particular temperature of a stamp for passing transfer elements against articles of any given class may be maintained constant within close limits, and the elements for obtaining this result may be grouped in a compact, effective, self contained unit.

Among other objects of the invention are to provide novel transfer paper advancing means, prevent backward movement of the paper, utilize a paper tension overdrive mechanism tending to take up the paper faster than it is fed whereby to ensure highly effective tensioning, and to operate the latter feature from the feed roll by a novel float support and other features as will appear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel actuating means for a reciprocable stamp that is biased toward stamping position, whereby a cam having a high spot operates to withdraw the stamp from stamping position to inactive position, and a latch is provided to catch the stamp at the inactive position opposite the high spot of the cam and to release the stamp opposite the cam high spot to avoid dropping portions of the mechanism onto the lower cam parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for effectively holding the paper on the stamp to prevent burning the paper in inactive and intermediate positions of the stamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel fabric pick up arm and grip structure whereby as portions of stacked articles, such as stockings, are successively stamped, the pick up device is operated to pick up the stamped portions and fold them to position out of the path of movement of the stamp, while retaining the stacked bodies in position adjacent to the stamp. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel device for loading a stamping machine with articles, such as stockings, as by a turntable having stocking receiving portions spaced such that, when a stack of stockings on one of the receiving portions is in stamping and folding position, another receiving portion is in position for unloading and loading stockings relative thereto, and this relation may be obtained quickly by positioning the turntable in predetermined relation to a main table on which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention is, in a reciprocable stamp that is biased as by spring means toward its stamping position, to augment the pressure of the stamp by a spring cam mechanism operating during the final increments of the stamp pressing stroke.

Another object of the invention is to prevent damage to a machine of the above indicated character in the event of sticking of certain parts, to provide a novel operating treadle, to avoid stamping a pad on which the articles are placed for stamping and to provide other features of novelty and improvement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above indicated character that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, parts being broken away, of a main table on which an example of the device of my in ention is shown in its inactive or non-stamping position;

2 is a top plan view of the device, and a portion of the table, of Fig. 1, showing particularly a novel turntable structure for moving stockings between a stamping position and a position at which the stockings are loaded and unloaded relative to the turntable;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away, of the turntable and the top of a main supporting table of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4. of Fig. 2, parts being broken away, emphasizing particularly a novel element or arm for holding the stockings in position and over which the stockings are folded;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevational view of a portion of a novel stamp operating and heating structure and other elements shown at the upper central portion of Fig. 1, enlarged relative thereto and illustrating the parts as positioned-at the moment of stamping;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 8, of portions of a mechanism for picking up and folding stocking portions according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line l! of Fig. 8, also of portions of the mechanism for picking up and folding stocking portions;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation at right angles to Fig. 5, of the apparatus thereof viewed from the left;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l0l0 of Fig. 5, showing more in detail certain novel fingers of the pick-up mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation taken substantially along the line l|ll of Fig. 2 enlarged relative thereto;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line l2l2 of Fig. 13, of a novel self contained stamp, stamp heater and switch unit of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I3-l3 of Fig. 11, showing a heater, a thermo responsive bimetallic switch control element and a thermo responsive indicator or thermometer;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially along the line l4--l4 of Fig. 11, of a 55 micrometer adjustment element for a ribbon feed device of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l5l5 of Fig. 18 of a novel device for preventing backward movement of the ribbon and for adjusting it longitudinally;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I6-l6 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l'I-l1 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 18 is a view taken along the line l8--I3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section or in elevation, of a paper feeding and gripping mechanism having its feedalong the line 20-20 of Fig. 5 showing the elements as positioned therein;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view takensubstantially along the line 2I--2l of Fig. 1, enlarged relative thereto, of a novel ribbon reel and tensioning mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary detail view, partially in top plan and partially in section of the tensioning structure shown in Fig. 21

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 23-23 of Fig. 21, parts being a broken away of the reel and reel support of Fig. 21; I

Fig. 24 is a view of the structure of Fig. 21, taken at right angles thereto from the left, on a reduced scale relative thereto;

Fig.25 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section of stamp driving and control parts under the table top of Fig. 1;

Fig. 26 is a view taken along the line 26-26 of Fig. 25, partially in top plan and partially in section of the structure thereof; v

- Fig. 27 is a view taken substantially along the line 21-21 of Fig. 25, parts being'in elevation and parts being in section; V

Fig. 28 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 28-23 of Fig. 25, showing a novel cam and drive vention;

Fig. 29 isa view taken generally along the line 29-23 of Fig. I

Fig. 30 is a detail view of certain latching and releasing parts as seen in Fig. 25, but enlarged relative thereto;

Fig. 31 is a view similar to Fig. 30, showing the latch parts in diiierent operative relation to each other from the relation thereof of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation taken substantially along the line 3232 of Fig. 30;

Fig. 33 is a view partially in section and parpulley wheel structure of the iritially in elevation taken substantially along the 1 line 33-33 of Fig. 30;

Fig. 34 is a view partially in top plan and partially in section taken along the line 3l34 of v Fig. 1, showing a novel treadle operating device for the machine of the invention;

Fig. 35 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3535 of Fig. 34;

Fig. 36 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, taken substantially along the line 36-36 of Fig. 1, of control, drive and latch elements of the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 37 is a plan view, parts being in section,

taken along the line 31-31 of Fig. 36, of a portion of the structure of the invention for receiving articles to be stamped and adjusting the level of the stamp relative thereto;

Fig. 38 is an electrical circuit diagram of a heated stamp structure of the invention;

Fig. 39-is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section and similar to Fig. 1, of the invention in modified form, parts being broken away;

Fig. 40 is a detail view, parts being broken away, of structure shown under the table top of Fig. 39, enlarged relative thereto, showing a novel means for superimposing on the stamp a pressure in addition to an initial pressure thereof; V

Fig. 41 is a view similar to Fig. 40 of parts thereof in diflerent operative relation to each other, also showing more clearly a device for preventing the stamp from making a complete stamping movement under certain conditions;

Fig. 42 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation taken substantially along the line 42-42 of Fig. 40;

Fig. 43 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section taken substantially along the line 4343 of Fig. 40;

Fig. 44 is a plan view, parts being in section, taken along the line "-44 of Fig. 39, of a portion of the inventive structure for receiving, in stamping position, articles to be stamped; and

Figs. 45 and 46 are detail views of portionsof the structure as seen in Figs. 40 and 41, with the parts in different positions.

In practicing the invention, in the form of mechanism illustrated in the first thirty-eight figures of the drawings, it is adapted as a machine for marking the toe portions of full fashioned stockings.

A main supporting base or table is provided over its top, in closely adjacent parallel plane relation thereto, with a thin panel like turntable of generally oblong plan such that, in either of its two operative positions relative to the main table and the stamp, one of the longer straight edges is parallel, and adjacent to, the

front edge of the main table; the operator, by this feature, being able to quickly pivot the turntable, and by touch, place it in proper position by locating one of its long edges parallel to the front edge of the main table.

n the top surface of the turntable, like areas spaced from each other are each adapted to receive a plurality of full fashioned stockings in fiat stacked form, extending in the same direction relative to a line aboutv the pivot, and along the long sides, of the turntable so that the toe portions of the stockings of one stack are adjacent to the welt portions of the stockings of the other stack. The turntable may have any suitable number of sides, for lining with the front edge or other portion of the main table, with a corresponding increase in the number of areas for receiving stocking stacks, as above indicated.

Pivoted elements or arms on the turntable are each disposed adjacent to the position of the insteps of the stacked stockings on one of the stocking-receiving areas. Each arm is provided with an over-the-center spring detent adjacent to its base, whereby, it is either positively held in vertical position out of the way of receiving the stockings onto the turntable, or is biased toward its stocking stack across th'instep portions when in substantially horizontal lowered position. When either long edge of the turntable is parallel to the front edge of the main table, one of the stocking stack receiving portions is adjacent to the operator at the front of the main table, for unloading stockings that have been stamped and loading onto the turntable stockings that are to be stamped, and the other stocking receiving portion is in stamping position. After the last stamping operation of the next previous stack, a rapid half turn of the turntable removes the stamped stockings from stamping position for removal from the machine, and places a new pile of stockings in their place.

A vertically reciprocable stamp supporting plunger tube is of inverted substantially J-shape having its long arm extending through the main table top between positions well above, and well unit comprises a stamp shoe or element proper, a heater, 9. switch for the heater, a thermo responsive element subject to the heat of the stamp for controlling the operation of the switch, means for adjusting the thermo responsive element to operate the switch at a given stamp temperature, and a thermal responsive indicator or thermometer for aiding in eifecting the switch adjustment. Conducting leads for the stamp, switch, etc., extend through the stamp supporting plunger tube to a control box or panel at the front underside of the main table.

The inverted J-tube is biased, by springs beneath the main table top, downwardly or toward its stamping position. A rotary cam beneath the main table top has one high, and one low, spot uniformly and symmetrically merged into each other and acting against a roller on the plunger, and against the downward spring bias of the latter, to uniformly raise and lower the stamp. An over the center spring biased latch, under the main table top, is operated by a treadle to catch and hold the stamp plunger in its upper position, to which it is moved by the high spot of the cam, and to release the stamp only when the high spot of the cam can directly receive the roller. This feature prevents releasing the stamp plunger to drop the roller any appreciable distance before engaging the cam whereby damage to the parts might result.

A support for a roll of ribbon like transfer paper is disposed behind the stamp above the table top, the ribbon extending rearwardly from the roll around a spring tension arm, through a swing arm clutch advancer for the ribbon, through a combined paper holding and adjusting device to a guide near the stamp, over a roller and guides above the stamp, and from the latter point back to the roll over which is disposed a tensioning device tending to pull the ribbon faster than it is fed, but having slip relation thereto whereby the ribbon is maintained taut.

The swing arm or oscillatory clutch is controlled by a reciprocable cam on the plunger above the table such that, upon its stroke away from the stamp, the clutch releases the ribbon and, upon its stroke toward the stamp, the clutch grips the ribbon and pulls it off the roll. When thus released, the ribbon is gripped by the combined holding and adjusting device to prevent backward movement of the ribbon by the swing arm clutch and, when the ribbon is gripped by the clutch, it is released by the holding and adjusting means which may also be operated to adjust the ribbon horizontally, before the clutch is operated, to ensure that imprints on the ribbon will stop, between advance strokes of the ribbon, exactly on the stamp receiving portion; the strokes of the swing arm being adjustable for rendering them equal to the distance between imprints on any of various ribbons. The combined holding and adjusting device, on the one hand, and the ribbon guide adjacent to the stamp, on the other hand, cooperate to hold the ribbon off the stamp in the upper or retracted nonstamping position of the latter and in other positions away from the stamping position.

In front of the stamp, a pick up arm is provided having both pivotal and lifting movement whereby, upon each stamping operation, the arm descends, picks up a foot portion of a stocking and folds it along an instep line over one of the above mentioned arms for holding the stocking stack in place, out of the way of the stamp to enable the next succeeding stocking to be marked.

stamping separate articles of different size and shape instead of stacks of articles as in the first described form.

Also, as against the more or less delicate yielding pressure of the stocking stamp, which stamps lower stocking portions of a stack successively,

the device of Figs. 39 to 46, is provided with .means for superimposing on the already biased stamp plunger an additional stamp pressure at the lower end of the plunger stroke, which is effected by a spring biased cam located .on the pulley wheel below the table top, this cam dragging over the roller for the rotary cam to accomplish this purpose. Means is also provided whereby, if the treadle latch is operated to release the plunger from its upper held position just after the high spot of the main operating cam has passed its vertical central position for re-,

ceiving the plunger roller, the stamp cannot reach its stamping position. A further feature resides in a device on the main drive pulley wheel and constituting a part of the above mentioned superposed pressure device, whereby if the plunger should stick in any intermediate position, it will be pushed up or down depending upon its position, thus offering it an opportunity for another start and preventing damage to the parts.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 11, 18, 119, 21, 25, 26 and 36, the device, in one form, comprises, in general, a main base support or table 2 inclifiing legs 3, as of metal tubing, secured by brackets 4, to a stop 1, as of sheet metal coated with baked enamel. A turntable 8 is in the form of a thin,

generally oblong panel, as of Bakelite, disposed on the top surface of the turntable 8 are adapted to receive stacks A and B of full fashioned stockings in fiat form, the stack A, as shown, being in position for stamping, and the stack B being in position for loading the stacks on, and unloading them from, the turntable. Longitudinal side edges C and D, joined by shorter arcuate end edges E, of the turntable 8 are adapted to be placed along the front edge F of the main table top 1, the latter edge operating as a feeler guide whereby the operator may quickly adjust the turntable to position. Elements or arms I3, see also Figs. 3 and 4, are each pivotally mounted at one end in a dome shaped base I4, on the turntable, enclosing an over-the-center, spring biased ball detent device I1 for biasing the arm toward its upper or stocking release position, indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4, and also, when moved from this position to its horizontal stock- -ing holding position, to bias it toward the stockings after it passes the center of its path of pivotal movement. Each arm I3 serves notfonly as a means for holding the stocking stacks in position, but also, as shown in connection with the stack A of Fig. 2, as a means or element over which the foot portion of each stocking is folded out of the line of action of the stamp after each stamping operation, as will further appear.

A stamp supporting, plunger tube I8 is of inverte'ci substantially J-shape having a long arm I9 extending from a'point well above the table top 1, through this top, to a point well below the top, and has its upper end rounded or merged into a short arm 22 in a type of overhanging structure carrying at its lower end a self contained; stamp unit G. The latter, as betterseen in Figs. 12 and 13, comprises a shoe or stamp portion proper 23, a resistor heater 24, a. thermoresponsive device or bimetallic element 21, a switch 28 and a thermometer 28.

The stamp portion 23 has a cylindrical upper extension 32 in which the resistor 24 is disposed and around which is disposed a cylindrical body 33 of heat resisting material, such as asbestos, whereby to better heat the portion 23 and insulate an upper casing or shell 34 in which the parts are mounted. The switch 28 comprises movable and. stationary contact members 31 and 38, re-

spectively, shown only diagrammatically in Fig. I 38, carried by a member 39, Fig. 12, that is piv- An adjust- 'oted by a pin 42 to-the shell 34. ing screw 43 limits the clockwise movement of the member 39, as viewed in Fig. 12, in which direction the member is biased by a spring 44. A button 46, Figs. 12 and 38, is for engagement by the element 21 to open the Switch 28 when the stamp reaches a certain temperature which canbe adjusted by turning the screw 43. metallioelement 21 is in non-electrical relation to the switch 28, but'subject to the heat of the stamp for controlling the switch. The thermometer 29 illustrated is of thespiral bimetallic element type and operates as an index as to the heating operation of the stamp, and for adjusting the switch 28. i

A bracket 41 secured, as by a screw, to the short arm 22 of the plunger I8, Fig. 11, has a lower guide portion 49 for a transfer paper ribbon 58 and disposed in predetermined relation to the stamp shoe 23 and other parts to be hereinafter pointed out.

The bi- At its upper portion, the bracket 41 carries guide arms 5i and a roller 52 for the ribbon 58 and has anvarm 53 carrying a pivot spindle 54 to which a stocking pick-up device H is fixed. The arm 53 has a pair of bearing portions 55, Fig. 8, in which the spindle 54 is journaled. A radial arm 51, fixed to the spindle 54, Figs. 5, 8 and 11, carries a roller 58 for operation in a cam slot 59 of a member 62 secured to a main supporting bracket 83 mounted over the table top 1 on a sleeve 84 extending through the table top, Figs. 11 and 18. A bracket 61, also fixed to the spindle 54 has journaled therein a shaft 68 on which is fixed a single-tooth ratchet disk 69, see also Fig. '7, having a side projecting pin 12. A radial arm 13, see Fig. 6, is also fixed to the shaft 88 and has a lost motion pivotal connection 14 to the upper end of a wire like rod 11 longitudinally movably disposed in a small tubular arm. 18 and biased upwardly in the arm by a spring 19. The bracket 81 has a split clamp like portion 18 between the partsof which the arm .18 is fixed, as by a screw H.

I At the lower end of the small tubular arm 18,

effecting a small gatheror fold 88 in a stocking portion 89 which is being picked up. The rod 11 is pivotally connected to one arm of the bell crank pick up finger 84.

A pawl 92, Fig. 7, is pivotally journaled on the spindle 54 for cooperation with the single notch ratchet. disk 99, and supports a pivot pin 98 carrying a screw 9I for longitudinally adjustably securing a rod 93 to the pivot pin. The rod'93 extends through the pivot pin 98 to a member 94 which by engagement with the stock-' ing portion 89 releases. the pawl 92 from the ratchet disk 89 to cause the pick up finger 84 to move from the position in which it is depicted in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 10 to the position indicated in full lines in which the fingers 83 and 84 grip the stocking portion 89 at the slight fold 88.

The pick up device H has both pivotal movement about the axis of the spindle 54 and up and down movement by action of the roller 58 in the slot 59 caused by vertical reciprocation of the stamp plunger I8 which carries the spindle 54 to thereby move it relative to the stationary member 82 having the cam slot 59 therein. An element 91, Figs. 7 and 8, fixed to one of the bearing portions 55 of the arm 53, cooperates with the side projecting pin I2 on the ratchet disk 69 to release the fold 88 of the stocking portion 89. At the end of upward movement of the device, the pawl 92 is latched by the single notch of the disk 69.

When the machine is idle, and between stamping operations, the parts of the pick up device H are positioned as in Figs, 1, 2 and 11, in which the roller 58 is adjacent to the top of the cam slot 59, the pin I2 is against the element 91, the rod 11 is held in lower position against the action of the spring I9, the rod 93 is biased downwardly by a spring 98, the member 94 is in the position indicated by dot-and-dash lines of Fig. l0, and the pick up fingers are separated,

as indicated by the dot-and-dash line position of the finger 84 in Fig. 10. The spring 98 surrounds a hollow screw or screw threaded sleeve 999 which in turn surrounds the rod 93 in the bracket 82 andis locked in position by a nut I88; the screw 999 limiting upward movement of the rod 93 by engagement with a collar I8I fixed to the rod.

When the stamp 23 moves from the upper position of Figs. 1, 2 and 11 to the lower, or stamping, position of Fig. 5, the roller 58 is so guided in the cam slot 59 that the arm I8 is pivoted clockwise about the axis of its point spindle54, as viewed in Fig. 11, or counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5, during which movement the fingers 83 and 84 are separated and the member 94 is in its lower position as indicated in Fh'g. 10. At the bottom of its stroke, the member 94 engages the fabric and is pushed upwardly thereby, this action moving the rod 93 upwardly against the actionof the spring 98 to release the pawl 92 from the ratchet disk 69. Since the arm 13 is fixed to the shaft to with the ratchet disk 89, when the latter is released by the pawl 92, the rod I1 is forced upwardly relative to the tubular arm 18 and the bracket 82 to move the bell crank pick up finger 84 from its dot-and-dash line position to its full line position of Fig. 10, thereby causing the friction finger tip element 81 to move the fold 88 into position between the fingers 83 and 84 where it is held during the upward movement of the stamp. 'During the latter movement, the roller 58, in its reverse traversal 0.1 the slot 59,

moves the arm I8 clockwise about the axis of the shaft 88, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5, or counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11; the fingers 83 and 84 with the fabric held thereby being moved upwardly and outwardly away from the stamp in an action folding the fabric or forward foot portion of the stocking over the adjacent arm I3 on the turntable 8. Near the upper end of the stroke of the arm I8, the pin I2 engages the element 91. Continued turning movement of the arm I8 about the axis of the spindle 54 causes the ratchet disk 89 to move relative to the pawl 92 until the latter falls into the disk notch thus separating the fingers to open position in which they are latched until the end of the next downward stroke. At the same time, the rod 93 and the member 94 are forced downwardly to the dot-and-dash line position of the latter of Fig. 10, ready for another pick up operation, and the stocking portion is dropped over the arm I3 to position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. These actions are repeated with each stamping action, with the downward spring tension of the stamp, as hereinafter set forth, 'so effected by a spring under the table top 'I as to produce effective transfer of marks from the ribbon 58 to the stockingportions at the successive lower levels of the stocking stack A.

To vary the pick up ability'of the fingers 83 and 84 according to the character of the articles to be picked up, the device H is provided with a member 95 vertically adjustably mounted on the arm I8 by a screw 96 and provided with depending arms 99 for engagement with the articles.

By adjusting the member 95 up or down, within comparatively small limits, the arms 99 will so engage the fabric as to-impart to the fingers 83 and 84 a light, intermediate or heavy pick up touch, so to speak. 'Thus, in picking up successive thin stocking layers of the stack to avoid having the fingers 83 and 84 pick up more than one stocking portion at a time, the member 95 is adjusted downwardly so that the arms 99 will press the fabric away from the fingers just enough to enable the picking up of one stocking portion. Where a heavier article of a stack is to be picked up, the member 95 and its arms 99 may be adjusted upwardly from the light touch pick up position to a heavier touch pick up position.

By adjusting the rod 93 longitudinally in the pivot pin 98 and fixing it in adjusted position by the screw 9|, and by adjusting the screw 999 relative to the collar IM and fixing it in adjusted position by the nut l88, the vertical distance of movement of the rod 93 after the member 94 strikes the fabric to release the pawl 92 from the ratchet disk 69 can be adjusted to vary the time of pick up operation of the fingers 83 and 84 relative to the pressure of the arms 99 on the fabric.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 21, 22, 23 and 24, an arm I82 of the main supporting bracket 83 supports a fixed pin I83 on which is rotatably mounted a support 9' for a reel I84 of the ribbon 58, this support comprising an inner sleeve I8'I, a washer I88, an outer sleeve I89, a collar II2, a sleeve member I I3 and a member I I4 to which are vertically fixed a pair of rods Ill and H8. A vertically reicprocable carriage I I9 on the rods I I I and II8 has a single slide bearing I22 on the rod Ill and a bearing I23 on the rod I I8. The bearing I23 supports pivot pins I28 for rollers I2I engaging the rods. A roller I21 having a friction tire M28 thereon, as of rubber, leather or other material, engages the reel I04 and is supported on a pin I29 extending from a depending portion I32 of the carriage II9. A sleeve I33 connects the roller I21 to a gear wheel I34 engaging a gear wheel I31 similarly mounted on a pin I38 projecting from the carriage I I9 and connected by a sleeve I39 to a roller I42 having a friction tire I43 for engagement with the underside of a draw off portion of the ribbon 50 from which the imprints have been removed in the stamping operation. A roller I44, engaging the upper side of the draw-off portion of the ribbon 50 is journaled on a pin I41 that is pivotally mounted by a pin I48 on the carriage II9. A screw I49, in an upper arm I52 of the carriage I I9, engages a spring I53 for adjusting a yielding pressure on the ribbon 50 between the rollers I42 and I44.

When the ribbon 50 is drawn from the reel I04,

' itactuates the roller I21 and thereby rotates the rollers I42 and I44 which tend to move the ribbon at a faster rate than it is moved by ribbon advancing means to be hereinafter set forth, thereby constantly maintaining the paper at proper tension for effective stamping and operation; the roller I42 being adapted to slide relative to the ribbon 50 when its peripheral speed is faster than the speed of the ribbon permitted by the advancing means.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 18, 19 and 20, means for advancing the paper in measured steps or lengths comprises an oscillatory arm I51 longitudinally reciprocably mounted in bearing portions I58 and I59 of a rocker lever I60 journaled on a bearing I62 that is supported by a branch I61 of the main supporting bracket 63. A friction grip member I68 enclosed in a bearing sleeve I10 in a bushing "I at the lower end of the arm I51, is adapted to engage the ribbon 50 at, and to advance it from, the rear end of the counterclockwise swing of the arm I51, as viewed in Fig. 5, to the forward end of the swing as viewed in Fig. 1, in doing which the grip member I68 presses the paper against a portion I69 of the rocker arm I60shaped to render the ribbon of curved cross section at this point to hold it in a similarly curved slot I12. I

Oscillation of the arm I51, and the rocker arm I60 on which it is mounted, is effected by engagement of a roller I13 on the rocker arm with a cam I14 mounted on the stamp plunger I8.

The grip member I68 is caused to grip the ribbon 50 at the rear end of swing of the arm I51 and to release the ribbon at the forward end of swing of the arm I51 by a longitudinally reciprocable shaft I11 which presses and releases a button I18 at the head of the arm I51 that is biased toward ribbon releasing position by a spring I19.

A micrometer screw adjustment device I82, having a lock handle I83 on an inner screw I84 held by a spring I81 on an outer screw I88, Figs. 1, 5, 11 and 14, is provided to accurately gauge the distance of swing of the arm I51 in accordance with the distance from center to center of the imprints on the ribbon 50 whereby successive of these imprints, which may be difieernt distances apart on different ribbons, are accurately centered at the stamping position; the inner screw I84 engaging a suitable dam to effect this result. A lock screw device I89 in a boss I92 on an arm I93 of the bracket 63 acts as a limit stop to prevent vibration of the arm I51 and to avoid cumulative error with repeated oscillations The 2,111,615 the rods to prevent binding of the carriage on arm I51, in its rear position, is practically locked between the lock screw devices I82 and I89, and movable only when the stamp plunger I8 raises the cam I14.

is-disposed in a horizontal slot I99, which allows horizontal adjusting movement between the plunger and the cam, but not vertical relative movement. The cam I14 is, of T-groove section embracing a stationary vertical guide bar 202 that is fixed adjacent to its bottom end, by screws 203 (Figs. 11 and 18) to the bracket 63, and at an upper portion thereof (Figs. 5 and 17) by a screw 204, to the bracket 63.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5, 15, 18 and 19, means for preventing backward slip of the ribbon 50, by contact with the friction grip member I68 and the portion I69 upon backward swing of the arm I51, or for other cause, comprises a lever 201 having a'substantially hemispherical paper pressure head portion 208, an arm 209 on which the portion 208 is disposed, a pivot hub 2I2 that is pivotally mounted on a pin -2I3 in the bracket 63, an arm 2I4 having an element 2" secured thereto, and a spring 2I8 (Fig. 15) in the hub 2I2 around the pin 2| 3 acting between the bracket 63 and the lever 201 for biasing the arm 201 counterclockwise, asviewed in Figs. 18' and 19, torelease the pressure head portion 208 from the "ribbon 50.

A disk 2I9 on a vertically reciprocable rod 222 engages the element 2I1 on the arm 2 to move the lever 201 clockwise from its position of Fig.

19 to its position ofFig. 18 for pressing the head 1 208 against the ribbon 50 at the end of each forlongitudinal section 228 of larger diameter than the portion 221 and an outer portion 229 of smaller diameter than the portion 228. A sleeve 232, of substantially the same diameter as the portion 228, surrounds the portion 229, and the portion 228 and the sieeve232 are surrounded by a friction sleeve 233, as of rubber. A button 234 is provided to close the outer end of the cylindrical element 223.

Normally, the parts of the element 223 are frictionally held in stationary relation to each other so that the ribbon 50 slides over the element 223 against which it is periodically pressed by the head 208,as above set forth. However, if upon threading the ribbon through its guides, or at any other time, the imprints on the ribbon to be transferred to the articles to be stamped do-not.

moves against the friction resistance of the stationary intermediate section 228 but rides with the sleeve 232 which has little or no friction on the stationary portion 229.

The rod 222 is Journaled in. bearings 23,1 and 238 on the bracket 63 and carries fixed disks 239 and 246 which are alternately engaged and moved by a dog 242 in the form of a plate fixed to the cam I14 as by screws, 243.

A cylindrical element 244, on the rod 222, having frusto conical or cam ends 241 alternately engages contact portions 248 on a cam follower 249 pivoted on a pin 252 in a portion 253 of the bracket .63 to rock the follower 249 back and forth between the positions of Figs. 18 and 19,

- this motion being transmitted to the shaft I11 to engage the button I18 in timed relation to the swing of the arm I51 to cause the friction grip member I68 to alternately engage and release the ribbon 56, as above set forth. The-rocking movement of the-follower 249 is transmitted throughits pin 252 to a yoke 254 (Fig. 20) operating between two collars 251 on'the shaft I11. Asleeve 258 surrounds the latter to act as a longitudinal slide bearing for the shaft I11, and as a pivot bearing for the bearing portion I62 of the rocker lever I66 having a bearing liner 259 therein. v

The structure, so far described, comprises parts,

mostly above the table top 1, which further include a spring tension arm 262 fixed to a stud 263 on the arm I62 of the bracket 63 and carrying a roller 264, and a ribbon guide 261 also secured to the stud 263. With the parts as shown (Fig. 1),'the ribbon 56 extends from the reel I64, about the roller 264, thereby flexing the arm 262, between the friction grip member I68 and the portion I69, over the cylindrical element 223 under the pressure head 268, past the stamp 23 at a. position thereunder, to the guide portion 49 of the bracket 41, over the roller 52, between the rollers I42 and I44, and over the guide 261 to a receptacle 268 under the'table top 1.

g The pressure head 268 and the cylindrical element 223 are so disposed below and to' the rear of the stamp 23, in the upper position of the latter, the guide portion 49 is so disposed in fixed relation to the stamp adjacent to the lower front side thereof, and the step-by-step advance movements of' the ribbon 56 are so related to these points that the ribbon is in position for effective stamping, and rapid withdrawal from or movement relative to the stamp to prevent burning the paper; the ribbon being entirely off the stamp during a considerable portion of the stroke of the latter to prevent burning, and on the stamp for a sufficient length of time to have the imprints ready for effective transfer at the instant of stamping. An armored flexible cable 269 extends from the stamp unit G through the long arm I9 of the plunger I8 to a plug and socket device 212 in a switch box 213 of a control unit K secured to the underside of the table top 1, and further including a signal lamp 214, a switch 211, and a switch 218 for a motor 219 mounted beside the switch box 213.

Referring to Fig. 38, the electrical parts of the stamp above set forth are connected to a source of electromotive force through a service circuit 282, a master switch 283 and supply lines 284. Conductors 281 and 288 are disposed in the cable 269 above set forth; the conductor 281 being connected to the service circuit 282 through a fuse 289, and the conductor 288 being connected to the service circuit 282 through the signal lamp 214, the switch 211, an adjustable rheostat 292 and a fuse 293. A cable 294, Figs. 1 and 36, contains conductors 291 and 298, the former of which is connected to the supply line 282 through a fuse 299, and the latter of which is connected to the Referring to Figs. 1 and 25 to 36, inclusive, the

long arm I9 of the plunger I8 is slidably disposed in a bearing portion 363 of a bracket 364 that is secured to the underside of the table top 1, as by screws 361, and supports depending rods 368 to which is fixed, at the lower ends thereof, a transverse member 369 having a central bearing portion 3I2 'in which the long arm I9 of the plunger I8 is also slidably disposed. A bridge structure 3I3, adjacent to the upper ends of the rods 368, is fixed to the plunger arm I9, as by a clamp portion 3I4 and is provided with bearing portions 3I1 that are slidably mounted on the rods 368. A tension spring 3I8, connected between the vertically slidable bridge 3| 3 on the plunger arm I9 and the stationary transverse member 369, tends to bias the stamp 23 toward its lower or stamping position. A detent 3 I 9, fixed to the plunger rod I9, cooperates with a latch arm 322 pivotally mounted on the stationary transverse member 369 by a pin 326 to hold the stamp 23 in its upper position against the bias of the spring 3 I 8. The latch arm 322 is connected by an over-the-center spring 323 to one arm 324 of a lever 321 that is pivoted by a pm 328 to a vertical bracket arm 329 constituting a part of the transverse member 369 fixed to the latter by a portion 332, Fig. 36. The latch arm 322 has an opening 336 in which a pin 33I on the transverse member 369 is disposed to limit the swing of the latch arm. The lever 321 has an arm 333 connected by a tension spring 334 to an arm 331 on the transverse member 369, and an arm 338 connected by a swivel joint 339 to a vertical rod 342 which is connected to one arm 343 of a pedal 344 by a connecter 341 allowing pivotal or swivel movement in the connection. A pin 356 in the vertical bracket arm 329 limits movement of the arm 324 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 25,30 and 31. The pedal is pivotally mounted by a pin 348 to a floor bracket 349, and has another arm 352 in a recess of which a spring 353 biases a ball 354 laterally to the plane of pivot movement of the pedal toward a notch or recess 351 such that, when the pedal is moved to position in which the lever 321 tensions the spring 334, the ball 354 is pressed by the spring 353 into the recess 351 and the pedal 334 and the rod 342 are held in position against the action of the spring 334.

The vertical bracket arm 329 has an upper end bearing portion for a shaft 358 having a cam 359 thereon for cooperation with a roller 36I mounted on a hub 362 on the bridge 3I3 whereby, when the latch arm 322 is in open position, the roller 36I carrying all of the parts associated with the plunger I8, is reciprocated vertically of the cam 359. The latter has a high spot in its vertically central upper position and a low spot in its vertically central lower position, as viewed in Fig. 25, at which the latch arm 322 may cooperate with the detent 3| 9 to hold the plunger in upper position. The cam is symmetrically outlined between its high and low spots at opposite sides of a line through these spots to provide uniform upward and downward movement of the stamp.

A large pulley Wheel 363, mounted on the shaft 358, is connected by a belt 364 to a small pulleyvertical bracket arm 329 and, near its other end, in a bracket 319 secured by angle members 3" and 382 constituting parts of the framework of the table top 1. Another arm 383 on the sleeve 311 cooperates with a screw 384 in a branch 381 fitting an aperture in the table top, and -a top portion of slightly reduced'dimensions parallel to its top surface to provide a slight slot or groove 408 between it and the adjacent surfaces of the table top. Exteriorly screw threaded sleeves 409, of

which there are three in this instance, are mounted in the bracket 304 to provide a substantially universal adjustment of the plate 401 relative to the plane of the table topv1.

By adjusting the sleeves 409 vertically in the bracket, the top plane of the plate can be ad- .iusted relative to the top plane of the surrounding surface of the table top, such that, when the stamp presses the turntable 8, the latter will be in accurate flat plane parallelism to the flat plane under surface of, the stamp shoe 23, thus ensuring uniform pressure throughout the area of the imprint to be transferred and producing an effective mark.

When the plate 401 is thus adjusted, bolts 2 extending through the plate and the sleeves 409 are secured in position by nuts 3 to fix the plate in adjusted position. By reason of the presence of the groove 408, injury,-such as chipping of the adjacent edges of the table top 1 and the plate 401 by engagement with each other during the above-described adjustment, is avoided.

While the machine is idle, the electrical elements and circuits are conditioned as shown in Fig. 38. To start the machine, the master switch 283 is closed to connect the service circuit 282 to the supply lines 284. After this, the switch 211 is closed to energize the circuit of the resistor heater 24 for heatingthe stamp shoe 23, and, since the signal lamp 214 is in this circuit, the lamp will be energized to indicate tothe operator that the shoe is being heated. After these conditions have been established, the switch 218 is closed to energize the motor 219.

With the motor operating, and the parts positioned as indicated in Figs. 1, 25, 30 and others, pressure on the arm 343 of the pedal 344 to move the pedal clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, causes the rod 342 to move downwardly, thus carrying the arm 324 of the lever 321 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 30 to the position of Fig. 31, in which the spring 323 has crossed the center of its path of movement and, instead of biasing the latch arm 322 toward latching position, as in Fig. 30, biases the latch arm away from latching position, but does not release it to release the detent 319 until the high spot of the cam 359 assumes the weight of the plunger l8 and parts thereon, and relieves the latch arm of this weight. Upon release of the detent 319 by the latch, arm 322, the roller 361 is free to ride on the cam 359 which it does by the force exerted by gravity and by the spring 3| 8. So long as the latch arm 322 is maintained out of contact with the detent M9, the stamp plunger 18 continues to reciprocate and the parts above the table top 1 continue to operate as above set forth, the stroke of the plunger increasing slightly after each stamping operation in the pick up and fold over operation of the device H. Pressure on the arm 352 of the pedal 344 to move the rod 342 upwardly from its position of Fig. 31 to its position of Fig. 30, throws the spring 323 across the center of its'path of movement to the right whereby the latcharm 322 is in position to catch and hold the detent 319 at the end of its next upward stroke, thus catching and holding the stamp 23 inits upper inactive position of Fig. 1, with the pick up device H in the position it assumes after having picked up a stocking foot portion and folded it over the adjacent arm I3.

During the above described operation, until the stamp gets too hot, the bimetallic element 21 remains out of contact with the button 46, but when the temperature increases to a certain value, the element 21 flexes such as to engage the button 46 and open the switch 28. This action, which is indicated to the operator by the signal lamp 214, starts cooling the stamp and the bimetallic element 21. Upon cooling, the element 21 retracts toward the position of Fig. 38, upon reaching which, it again releases the buton 46 to close the switch 38. This action is automatically repeated to maintain the stamp substantially constantly at a precise temperature within close limits. The thermometer 29 provides means for observing the correct working of the stamp circuit and of any changes necessary or desirable in the heating which may be effected by adjusting the rheostat 292. Operationof the machine is stopped by preferably first opening the switch 218 and then the master switch 283, with the opening of the switch 211 effected before or after, the opening of the switch 218.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 40

39 to 46, inclusive, corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters having the suffix fa, attention being directed to the fact that parts shown and designated by reference characters having the suffix a and not mentioned herein are like the corresponding parts set forth above in connection with the first described form of the invention.

The construction and operation are similar to that above described with few exceptions, one of which resides in the omission of the turntable 8 and appurtenant parts, the omission of the arm 63 and its associated elements, and in the provision over the table top 1a of a support 392 having a stamp pad portion 393 thereon. In this form of the invention, the machine is capable of stamping articles of various sizes, kinds, shapes and textures, such as felt hats, bathirig suits, underwear and the like.

Another exception to the construction of the device of Figs. 1 to 38, inclusive, resides in means P, for augmenting the stamp pressure provided by, the spring 318a, in the form of a lever 394 pivoted by a pin 395 to one spoke 396 of the puiley wheel 383a and biased against another pin 391 on the next succeeding spoke 398 by a spring 399 extending between the lever 394 and an adjustable screw device 400 on thespoke 398.

The lever 394 in passing the roller 36la, in its clockwise rotation of the pulley wheel 383a, as indicated in Figs. 40 and 41, has a cam wiping action on the roller 36Ia whereby to superimpose the pressure of the spring 399- uponthe downward pressure of the stamp plunger l8a by gravity and the spring 318a at the lower end of the stroke of the plunger. Thus, after the stamp 

